37.51.816    YOUTH FOSTER HOMES: SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS AND REQUIREMENTS

(1) Each foster child must sleep in a room designated as a bedroom that provides for privacy.

(2) Any room in which the child sleeps must have a window sufficiently large for an adult to enter or exit in an emergency.

(3) Children of the opposite sex who are five years of age or older must not share a bedroom.

(4) Children over 24 months of age may not routinely sleep in the same room with an adult unless approved by the department foster care licensing supervisor.

(5) A foster parent shall sleep within call of all foster children during the night or must use a baby monitor or other intercom system that will alert the foster parent to the child's call.

(6) Each child must be provided with the child's own bed, which must be at least 30 inches wide and of a length which is adequate for the child's height.

(7) A child under the age of four may be provided with a toddler bed which must use a standard crib mattress, be at least 28 inches wide, and have a length adequate for the child's height.

(8) Children under age two must sleep in a crib. Cribs must have a snug fitting mattress and there must not be more than 2 and 3/8 inches of space between the vertical slats.

(9) Each bed or crib must have adequate bedding.

(10) Bunk beds more than two bunks high are prohibited. If bunk beds are used, the upper bunk must have a guardrail. Upper bunks must not be used by children under eight years of age.

(11) Each child must be provided with space in a closet, locker, or dresser for clothing and personal belongings located in his sleeping area.

(12) When placement in a kinship foster home is determined to be in a child's best interests, a regional administrator may approve a requested exception to one or more provisions of this rule on a case by case basis.

History: 52-1-103, 52-2-111, 52-2-601, 52-2-621, 52-2-622, MCA; IMP, 52-1-103, 52-2-111, 52-2-601, 52-2-621, 52-2-622, MCA; NEW, 2006 MAR p. 1395, Eff. 6/2/06.